You can now watch and read WJLA’s story on A Place To Be co-founder Tom Sweitzer’s work using music therapy for covid “long haulers”. For some, the effects of Covid last long after their initial illness. A long hauler himself, Tom shares the story of the group, and how music can be a path for healing for those still recovering from covid-19. Watch the video below, or check out the article at WJLA

This fall, join us for Bigfoot, our next musical! Our clients are hard at work creating a “radio show” to air on October 30th. Join us, as we unravel the mystery of America’s most reclusive creature.

Can’t wait until fall to get your Bigfoot fix? Check out the short film “trailer” now, over on our youtube channel

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Ryan has been a member of A Place To Be for over 10 years. We have watched him grow into an amazing young man. Through Music Therapy, he focused on communication and social skills. He has performed in front of thousands of students spreading the message that people are more than their diagnosis.

Ryan is now searching for a career, and his hand-penned cover letter has gone viral over at LinkedIn. Ryan’s story has been featured locally and internationally, with features from ABC, Today, People Magazine, Fox, CNN, The New York Post, The Daily Mail, and countless others. We are proud of everything Ryan has accomplished, and grateful for all the support and encouragement Ryan has received.

See Ryan’s thank you video below

At A Place To Be, we work everyday to help people face, navigate, and overcome life's challenges using clinically based practices of music therapy.

From individual sessions, to community programming, to medical music therapy, our certified music-therapists are helping people face, navigate and overcome life's challenges using the clinically-based practices of music therapy!

Our new kids-centered youtube channel, “A Place To Be Family” is now live! This new channel features a variety of family friendly content based in music therapy principles. From our flagship animated series “The Land of Music”, designed to help kids deal with the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to content teaching music history and American Sign Language, A Place To Be Family has a wide variety of content for the whole family!

The Land of Music is created by, and stars, kids from our A Place To Be community, many of whom face their own life challenges. Here at A Place To Be, we believe in the power of performance-based music therapy, and The Land of Music was a way to keep kids involved even when the coronavirus forced us to close our doors.

You can learn more by visiting www.landofmusic.org. To subscribe and get all Land of Music episodes, VisitA Place To Be Family on Youtube.

Ten years ago, Forrest Allen suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a snowboarding accident. He was left unable to talk, walk, or express himself. Through years of therapy, and through the use of music in particular, Forrest is now able to speak - and share his message with others.

“Music Got Me Here” follows Forrest’s journey learning to speak, walk, and express himself through the use of music therapy. Forrest his now looking to spread a message of perseverance and hope by sharing his story with teens across the nation. In a time when many feel increasingly isolated and alone, Forrest offers a unique perspective, having spent years isolated and trapped in his own body.

You can book Forrest and his music therapist, Tom for a movie screening and QA today or your school or organization. For more information, or to book today, email Tom Sweitzer at Tom@APlaceToBeVA.org

A Place To Be co-founder Tom Sweitzer discusses music therapy in the time of COVID-19 with renowned opera singer Renée Fleming on her series “Music Mind”

Our co-founder Tom Sweitzer joins NBC news to discuss how music therapy can be a useful tool to help people cope with the pandemic, and shares details on our initiative to bring free teletherapy to students of Loudoun County Public Schools

You can read more at NBC’s website

Tom Sweitzer recently joined students at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa for a guest lecture on on Music Therapy. Tom answers the questions of psychology students on how music affects, and can help heal, the brain

Our Head of Medical Music Therapy, Ray Leone recently discussed his work in the hospital with ABC 7 News.

Head over to WJLA's website to hear Ray and the staff atInova Loudoun Hospitalshare how music is bringing much needed relief during the COVID-19 pandemic!

Featuring the A Place To Be’s “Different Strokes for Different Folks Choir"“, check out AARP’s feature “Choir Helps Stroke Survivors Regain Their Voice”! With over 4 million monthly visitors, AARP is helping to spread the story of the healing power and benefits of music therapy!

To read the whole story check out this link

Featuring kids and young adults facing a wide variety of different challenges, our original music albums provide an opportunity for self expression, and to work as a group to create an original cast recording.

Hope For Christmas

Our 2020 Christmas show, Hope For Christmas, features all new holiday songs. performed by our clients! The album also features a guest appearance by Broadway Star J. Robert Spencer. Don’t forget to check out the film!

The Land of Music

The Land of Music is an animated series designed to help young children cope with the new challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the power of music. Starring a cast of A Place To Be clients and volunteers, this soundtrack captures the songs from that series. You can watch the series at www.youtube.com/APlaceToBeFamily

A Will To Survive

A Will to Survive is an original rock opera starring a cast of young adults and based on the story of Will Robinson, a 17 year-old Loudoun County young man who took his own life on January 14, 2016. The show toured Loudoun County Schools in 2017 and played at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Will To Survive aims to spread a message of hope, accepting others and yourself no matter what life challenges you might face, and hones in on the topics of depression and suicide prevention.

Someone Big

For many years, our “Same Sky” shows have toured Loudoun County Public Schools, spreading a message of empathy, inclusion, and acceptance through performance and song. The“Someone Big” soundtrack is a compilation of these songs, each written, inspired, and performed by the music therapy clients at A Place To Be. These songs touch on the many different challenges experienced by our clients including physical, emotional, behavioral, mental and overall wellness.

Check out this amazing Tedx Talk given by our very own Tom Sweitzer. Tom talks about his own journey through his childhood all the way to co-founding A Place To Be and how music has the ability to make anyone feel big on earth.

A Place to Be programs are supported by and made possible by the following 2018-2019 grants.

All professional photography by Sharon Hallman

Programming Icons by Caroline Elgin